Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion; That's The Title

Even Vegetables Must Pay Onion Sam His Just Due

On April 2021, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion was released digitally on the PC and Nintendo Switch by indie developers Snoozy Kazoo. The game and I guess by extension the developers' name, Snoozy Kazoo, is all the player needs for confirmation. This is a game that's not meant to be taken seriously. Like, at all. Upon its release, players enjoyed the light-hearted nature of the game despite its short length and repetition elsewhere. With the physical release now available for Switch owners, how does the rest of the game hold up to its amazing title?

The story is as follows. You are Turnip Boy. An eviction notice is sent to your mailbox for not paying over $100k in back taxes. In response, you tear up the notice and go about your day because "down with capitalism" right? Well, Mayor Onion doesn't seem to agree. In fact, he holds you in custody and forces you to do favors for him. Failure to do so means getting sent to the slammer, yet everything is as what it seems. While the plot and the graphics feature cute and cartoony fruits and veggies, the drama is all real. Well, as real as a game titled Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion can get.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion Is One Giant Meme

That doesn't make Turnip Boy a bad game, however, but it's best for the player to know what to expect before jumping in. On the surface, the game feels like a Legend of Zelda fangame with its top-down perspective and simple gameplay. Turnip Boy has access to a watering can, that he steals from an elderly lemon, which is used to activate switches. It can also be used to water objects that reveal required tools, including a sword. This sword becomes Turnip Boy's main method of attack, using it to defend himself against enemies.

The enemies in this game consist of animals, ranging from snails, worms, fish, and pigs. The latter serves as the game's first boss in which Turnip Boy must defeat a giant swine to obtain a bag of fertilizer. Apparently, in the world of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, eating fertilizer causes anyone to grow astronomically. Speaking of "anyone," it seems peculiar that the world is filled with sentient veggies and no humans at all. This is briefly mentioned as the story goes on, but references to the pandemic and zombie plants clue into a previous civilization. I didn't think too much of it.

While The Humor Is Spot On, The Gameplay Is Linear

I mentioned before that Turnip Boy thrives on its comedy to carry the player and for good reason. The gameplay is rather lacking as Turnip Boy attacks with his sword in a general direction. That's all he has to offer, aside from tripping on the floor. There are other mechanics including watering bombs and kicking them to detonate in front of doors. These open up new areas to explore, damage enemies (like the pig boss), and are used for puzzles. There is no rhyme or reason to fight any of the enemies, however, as I began to ask "what was the point?"

See, from a gameplay perspective the player gains nothing from defeating regular enemies. Some enemies can be defeated to obtain drops, sure. The problem is that these enemies are only points of interest due to the NPC associated with them. An example is when the player has the option to kill a snail in order to take his rent money, rip up his check, and listen to his roommate buy some chips with said money. The entire scene is absurd and the enemy snail is just like any other, but the entire joke is what carries the player.

Turnip Boy, Once Again, Does Not Take Itself Seriously And It's Well Aware Of It

There are several fetch quests that depend on Turnip Boy's humor, including a dumpster baby carrot, TikTok references, and a Jojo's reference. There's one long-winded one involving an "e-girl" streamer and being a "tier 3 sub" (obviously referencing the word "simp"). The "tier 3 sub" is a literal sub sandwich and for the player's efforts, they are given a crown (that would have been given to other "tier 3 subs" anyway).

These jokes are what make Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion amazing. For players who wish to play an honest-to-goodness Zelda clone, well, prepare for disappointment. In conclusion, if you're playing the game due to the absurdity of the title alone, the player should know what to expect. It is that player base that will find the most enjoyment out of Turnip Boy and his evasion methods.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is available on the PC and Switch.